COVID-19

Robredo hits gov’t for refusal to listen about face-to-face classes

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Robredo hits gov’t for refusal to listen about face-to-face classes

OPPOSITION LEADER. Vice President Leni Robredo scores the Duterte government for not listening to her suggestions.

File photo by Jay Ganzon / OVP

'Kapag hindi bukas sa suggestions, hindi naman ako iyong nabibiktima eh. Iyong nabibiktima iyong mga bata,' says Vice President Leni Robredo

Vice President Leni Robredo criticized the Duterte government on Sunday, December 20, for its initial refusal to listen to her suggestion as early as June to hold face-to-face classes in low-risk areas.

Robredo hits gov’t for refusal to listen about face-to-face classes

In her weekly radio program Biserbisyong Leni, Robredo said the pilot testing of face-to-face classes in low risk areas for 2021 could have been done at the start of the school year, had the Duterte government listened to her suggestion.

“Ilang beses na natin itong na-discuss,” Robredo said. “Pero kapag galing sa akin, shina-shut down ulit. Iniinsulto pa nga tayo. Pero later on, gagawin din nila, many months after.”

(We have discussed this many times. But whenever it comes from me, they shut it down. They even insult me. But they will do it eventually, many months after.)

Robredo said in June that the government may want to consider delaying the August opening of classes if teachers and students aren’t ready yet, and for identified low-risk areas to be allowed to hold face-to-face classes to circumvent distance learning difficulties.

“Ang hindi nare-realize, kapag hindi bukas sa suggestions, hindi naman ako iyong nabibiktima eh. Iyong nabibiktima iyong mga bata,” said Robredo. (What they don’t realize is if they are not open to suggestions, I’m not the one victimized. The children are the ones victimized.)

Robredo hits gov’t for refusal to listen about face-to-face classes

President Rodrigo Duterte approved on December 14 a test run of face-to-face classes in areas deemed low risk for COVID-19.

Robredo said the delayed reaction may be due to some officials’ lack of ground work. “Kaya hindi nararamdaman iyong urgency ng ibang pangangailangan,” she added. (That’s why they don’t feel the urgency of some needs.)

“Ako, babad na babad ako, lalo na sa mga malalayong lugar, kaya alam ko talaga iyong urgent concerns. Halimbawa, ang dami kong pinuntahan ngayon na walang community transmission. May mga lugar na mula March, hindi man lang nagkaroon ng kaso,” said Robredo.

(I was really immersed, especially in far-flung areas, so I really know the urgent concerns. For example, I went to a lot of areas where there’s no community transmission. There are areas that have not had a single case since March.)

Robredo also brushed aside attempts to make #NasaanAngBisePresidente (“Where’s the Vice President?”) trend, in reference to the Twitter topic #NasaanAngPangulo (“Where’s the President?”) that trended whenever Duterte was not immediately visible during the past calamities.

Robredo, who is facing an electoral protest case filed by Ferdinand Marcos Jr, joked on Sunday, “Ina-acknowledge na nila na ako iyong Pangalawang Pangulo kasi ‘di ba tawag nila Fake VP? (They’re now acknowledging that I’m the Vice President because don’t they call me the fake VP?) – Rappler.com

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